FREE Tax Preparation Assistance Available

Posted: Jan 7, 2013 10:51 AM by KATC

LAFAYETTE, La.- United Way of Acadiana announces FREE tax preparation for families and individuals with a combined household income of $50,000 or less.

FREE tax prep services are offered at 11 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across Acadiana and completed by IRS-certified and trained volunteers. Volunteers work with individuals to get every dollar they deserve, including those eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

"United Way of Acadiana launched "Earn it. Keep it. Save it." in 2009 to help more families in the region become financially stable. Our goal it to help people whose household income is less than $50,000 get the tax refund they deserve by connecting them with free tax preparation," explained Margaret Trahan, United Way of Acadiana President/CEO.

In addition to the VITA sites being open and available to community members from January -April, three Super Tax Days will be held:

February 2, 2013 from 8am to 1pm at Lafayette Consolidated Government at 111 Shirley Picard Drive.

February 6, 2013 from 1pm to 8pm at the Clifton Chenier Center at 220 West Willow Street.

February 7, 2013 from 9am to 8pm at the Vermilion Parish Library at 405 E. Victor Street.

Last year alone, volunteers prepared 2,705 federal returns. Of those, 1,069 EITC-eligible returns were filed, resulting in $1.9 million in Earned Income Tax Credits being claimed by Acadiana residents.

Each year, on average, $30 million in Earned Income Tax Credits goes unclaimed in Acadiana because due to a lack of awareness.

The tax return, with the Earned Income Tax Credit, can increase many individual's income by 20 percent - a margin that could make or break a family by putting them on a different side of the poverty line," Trahan said."

FREE tax prep sites are open January 22nd through April 15th.

For a complete directory of VITA site locations and times, please dial 2-1-1 or visit www.UnitedWayofAcadiana.org